DailySun
It is often said that achieving excellence in snooker represents a misused youth.
However, for Terry Griffiths, snooker served as an escape from a difficult childhood.
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Yesterday, heartfelt tributes flowed in for the charming world snooker champion who passed away on Sunday at 77, following a lengthy battle with dementia.
The proud Welshman was one of a select few—just 11 players—to have earned snooker’s Triple Crown.
While he clinched the Masters title in 1980 and the UK Championship two years later, it was his astonishing victory in the World Championship in 1979 during his first attempt that catapulted him to global fame.
Snooker player Mark Allen expressed his feelings on X/Twitter: “A true icon who significantly impacted my career and life, both at and away from the table.”
“I am truly saddened. He wasn’t just a mentor; he felt like family.”
Born Terence Martin Griffiths on October 16, 1947, in Llanelli, south Wales, he was the youngest of three siblings.
The son of a tin-plate worker, he displayed substantial academic promise and attended grammar school. However, longing for the camaraderie of his friends from the local secondary modern school, especially after failing the 11-plus exam, led him to skip classes.
Terry frequently played truant to meet up with his friends and was ultimately expelled from grammar school. He reunited with buddies like Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell, who would later rise to fame as notable Welsh rugby players.
Despite facing probation twice for minor theft, Terry managed to avert a life of crime after discovering Hatcher’s snooker hall in Llanelli.
By the age of 13, he was already playing snooker on a mini-table with his father and winning money from coal miners with cash games.
‘Worked my charm’
At just 15, he began an apprenticeship in mining at Pontarddulais, earning five shillings a week; however, the demanding hours conflicted with his snooker practice. He subsequently left that job for a position as a bus conductor, which provided him with more time to train.
It was on the bus’s upper deck that he met Annette, the love of his life, now 75.
In his autobiography, Terry reminisced: “I was on the late shift when she got on my bus.”
“She traveled a few stops while I charmed her. It evidently worked, as soon after, she ended her relationship with her boyfriend to be with me.”
At the young age of 21, Terry wed in 1969. He and Annette welcomed two sons: Wayne, who is now a snooker coach in Hong Kong, and Darren, a professional golfer.
Determined to enhance his skills, Terry took a job as a postman. The first national postal strike in 1971 allowed him a two-month opportunity for uninterrupted practice.
During that same year, he was the runner-up in the Welsh Championships.
Adjusting his work hours for tournaments, he transitioned to being a door-to-door insurance salesman.
A major turning point came when he won the English Amateur Championship in 1977 and defended his title the following year. At 30, this led Terry to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time professional.
This decision meant Annette had to work in a car radiator factory to help support their family.
In 1979, he made it to the World Championships in Sheffield on his first attempt, defeating Alex “Hurricane” Higgins before beating Dennis Taylor in the finals.
The prize money of £10,000 and the prospect of earning £75,000 annually enabled him to purchase a lovely home in Burry Port on the Carmarthen coast, which included a snooker room.
In 1987, he opened his own snooker club in Llanelli, where he mentored local talents, including a young Mark Williams at the age of 12.
Even after becoming a world champion, allowing him to command lucrative fees for appearances, Terry honored a prior engagement to perform at a small club in Kilgetty near Tenby.
Tom Bedford, a journalist from his local paper sent to cover the event, noted: “This illustrates the kind of person Terry was; despite being a world champion, he upheld the fee he had accepted before his victory.”
That same year, UK champion John Virgo stayed with Terry and his family while competing in various tournaments in Wales. Virgo recollected one morning when he pulled back his bedroom curtains to find Terry washing his car — a typical generous gesture from him.
A teetotaler by choice, Terry was known to be a heavy smoker, often chain-smoking ten cigarettes during matches. At a trick-shot exhibition during the Hong Kong Masters with Jimmy “Whirlwind” White, Terry struggled with his shots, appearing to sway as if intoxicated.
Underdog story
When asked how he felt, Terry humorously quipped: “I just had one of Jimmy’s roll-your-own cigarettes. They’re fantastic, aren’t they?”
In an era with merely three TV channels, snooker players became cultural icons.
The public rallied around Terry’s underdog story as the sport shifted from smoky halls to prime-time television.
His cheerful demeanor endeared many to him, and his distinct hairstyle was featured in Chas & Dave’s 1986 hit “Snooker Loopy,” where he jokingly sang, “I’ll buy another eight hairbrushes for me barnet.” Terry said: “My life transformed overnight, but I remain the same person I was in 1979.”
After a successful 18 years at the forefront of the sport, Terry retired in 1997 at the age of 49 to focus on coaching and commentary, following a loss to Mark Williams, the young player he had guided since he was 12.
In 2007, he received an OBE for his contributions to snooker.
Tragically, six years ago, BBC Wales snooker reporter Gareth Blainey expressed concern when a polished broadcaster like Terry showed up for an interview, inquiring: “What topics will they be discussing with me?”
This early indication pointed towards Terry’s struggles with dementia. Gareth reflected: “Terry was exceptionally witty and sharp. It’s truly heartbreaking to see him suffer from dementia. It’s an exceedingly cruel illness.”
Barry Hearn, a longtime promoter of Terry, shared his condolences, stating: “A great friend has departed. I don’t believe anyone could ever speak ill of Terry — he was genuinely one of the kindest, most straightforward individuals you could ever meet.
“On a global scale, he was one of our most esteemed ambassadors.”
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